LA Galaxy Academy’s Jake Arteaga has been called into U.S. Soccer’s U-17 MNT Training Camp

LA Galaxy Academy’s Jake Arteaga has been called into U.S. Soccer’s U-17 MNT Training Camp by head coach John Hackworth, as part of a 29-player roster for the team’s first domestic camp since the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship.

Arteaga was a key member of the Academy’s recent run to the Academy Championships, and has been earning time with LA Galaxy II (USL), making four appearances so far this season.

Arteaga and the rest of the U-17 MNTs will begin training at Atlanta United FC on July 21-29, with friendlies against Tormenta FC (Premier Development League), Atlanta Silverbacks (National Premier Soccer League) and other local competition.

“This camp marks the start of our World Cup preparations,” Hackworth said. “Therefore, it’s important to try to get this large player pool back together and focused on their preparations for the next two months.”

The camp marks the first gathering for the player pool (birth year 2000 or later) since Hackworth named 20 players for the 2017 International Festival in Buenos Aires and Rosario, Argentina, where the U.S. faced Argentine First Division youth clubs Rosario Central and Newells Old Boys, as well as the Uruguay U-18National team.

With the 2017 FIFA U-17World Cup quickly approaching and the U.S. set to kick off against host India on opening night, the Atlanta camp will be the first of four gatherings for Hackworth and his coaching staff to evaluate the player pool and test it against professional competition.

Of the 29 players brought into camp, 26 have registered at least one season in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. Nine have registered four seasons in the Academy: Jake Arteaga, Carlos Asensio, Chris Gloster, Matthew Hundley, Jaylin Lindsey, Alejandro Pereira, Josh Sargent, Tyler Shaver and Adrian Villegas. 26 players were born in 2000, making 2001-born Taylor Booth, Bryan Reynolds Jr. and Indiana Vassilev the youngest players in the group. Three players are making their debuts with the U-17 Men’s National Team in 2017: Sam Fowler, Brayan Padilla and Sebastian Soto.

This group of players is nearing the end of its two-year cycle and will move up to the U-19 age group after the U-17 World Cup.